Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

The Effects Of Lactation On Seedling Damage By Mountain Beaver, Wendy M. Arjo, Dale L. Nolte, Julie L. Harper, Bruce A. Kimball

USDA Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The mountain beaver is a semi-fossorial rodent of the Pacific Northwest and is among a variety of herbivores that retard plant growth and cause tree seedling deformities and mortality. Douglas-61 seedlings are planted in the Pacific Northwest from February through March, a period coinciding with mountain beaver parturition. Previous research suggested that in spring, lactating females depend more on conifers than do non-lactating females and males. We conducted experiments to determine if female reproductive condition influenced seedling damage, and if physiological stage of the seedling affected damage. Dormant and flushing trees were offered to 6 pregnant and 6 non-pregnant females …